Watford City, founded in 1914, is a city in and the county seat of McKenzie County, North Dakota, United States. Its population was 6,207 at the 2020 census and was estimated to be 6,207 in 2024, making it the 14th-most-populous city in North Dakota. Because Watford City is part of the Bakken field, the North Dakota oil boom has significantly increased population and construction since the 2010 census.